Bruno Giacosa - Barbaresco Asili | Monsieur Touton Selection

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Bruno Giacosa - Barbaresco Asili - 2022

Producer

Bruno Giacosa

Blend

100% Nebbiolo

Country

Italy

Region

Piemonte

Appellation

Barbaresco

UPC

0 15643 53199 6

Verified Stock

6 / 750mL
Wood Case

83321-22/6PK

Product Ratings

Wine Advocate 95pt

The Bruno Giacosa 2022 Barbaresco Asili is hitting the market now. It was bottled on the 15th of July, 2024. This elegant wine shows the finely tuned and nuanced essence of Asili with its fine soils. It opens to a bright ruby color and delivers chalky tannins that retain their tension and grippy feel. On the close, you get hints of violets and blue flower. This is a very terroir-driven wine, but it needs more time in bottle to fully express itself. There will be a red label, or Riserva, made in 2020 to be released later this year (that I have reviewed here). A 2021 Riserva will be released in 2026. If Bruna Giacosa (daughter of the late Bruno Giacosa) makes a red label, the white label is not produced.

by Wine Advocate, 2025

Jeb Dunnuck 96pt

The team will not produce a 2022 Riserva release, and the 2022 Barbaresco Asili will be only release from Asili. From this cru with sandier soils, it was aged for 20 months in large barrels. In the glass, it boasts a jewel-toned ruby color and is fresh and ripe with aromas of pure raspberries, wild strawberries, rocky earth, and pressed roses. The palate is fruity and appealing, with refreshing lift, well-defined tannins, even acidity, and a kiss of stone fruit and mouthwatering salinity on the finish. It has just a hint of warmth, but it's very well-balanced and joyful, making it a pretty vintage of this wine.

by Jeb Dunnuck, 2025

James Suckling 98pt

Very classy and perfumed, with ripe strawberries, spice, cedar, sandalwood and iron shavings that follow through to a medium body with extremely long and pointed tannins that go on and on. Lightly chewy at the end. Racy Asili. Hard not to drink now.

by James Suckling, 2025

Decanter 96pt

As transparent as it is intense, the nose presents dark cherry and raspberry entwined with mint, lilac and mace. The palate amplifies these perfumes and brings in nuances of truffle and citrus zest. Chalky tannins are refined, and scintillating acidity surges between the layers giving a satisfying crunch on the lingering finish. Harvested on 4 October, the estate's Asili rises above the challenges of 2022 demonstrating, above all, breed of site and skill of winemaking.

by Decanter, 2024

Estate

One of the legendary winemakers of the world, Bruno Giacosa crafted the most prestigious single-vineyard Barolo and Barbaresco wines during a career that spanned nearly eight decades. He joined the family business at the age of 15, representing the third generation of his Langhe winemaking family. Giacosa’s unfailing pursuit of perfection, his unrivaled palate and his intimate knowledge of vineyards in the Langhe quickly drew recognition and helped establish Piedmont as a leading wine region. In 1980, Giacosa began to acquire prime parcels in Serralunga d’Alba, La Morra and Barbaresco to produce wines that are rightly regarded as the finest expressions of Nebbiolo. His legacy rests with daughter Bruna, who continues to uphold her father’s winemaking philosophy to respect traditional techniques while using the best of modern technology. The goal is for each distinguished site to produce articulate, unique wines.

Description

The 2022 growing season marked the second consecutive year of drought in Piedmont, a defining feature of the vintage. A snowless winter left soils with minimal water reserves, compounding the effects of the dry 2021 season. The lack of soil moisture led to an early budbreak that, fortunately, occurred during excellent flowering conditions with abundant sunshine and mild temperatures. While the lack of rain and summer heat slowed fruit set and extended the ripening cycle, there was enough residual soil moisture, combined with meticulous canopy management, to help mitigate the most severe effects of the drought. The result were lower yields, small berries and compact clusters. The lack of seasonal rain resulted in an early harvest, with Nebbiolo picked by early October. The resulting wines reflect resilience in challenging conditions, displaying rich, concentrated fruit and aromatic purity—hallmarks of a high-quality vintage that should offer both immediate charm and the potential to age gracefully.

Terroir

Asili represents one of the most important single vineyards of Barbaresco. Bruno Giacosa purchased vineyards in Asili in the 1980s, which now total 2.5 hectares.

Vinification

Fermentation and Maceration: 20 days in stainless steel vats Malolactic Fermentation: Developed Refinement: 18 months in big French oak barrels, 6 months in bottle Bottling: July 2024

Tasting Notes

Intense garnet color with orange highlights. Notes of red fruit and roses are found on the nose. On the palate, good structure is matched with freshness of fruit and sweet, silky tannins.